When Fang Er returned home, Chai Yue was lying on a rocking chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
Xiao Qing and Xing'er sat to the side, seemingly embroidering something.
This was the first time Fang Er had seen the two of them doing such a thing, so he asked,
"What are you doing?"
"Young master is back. They are making clothes for the baby in my belly."
Chai Yue looked up and smiled slightly.
She was nearly six months pregnant, her belly protruding. Sitting upright was no longer comfortable.
"Where is Father-in-law?" Fang Er sat down next to Chai Yue and asked, taking her hand.
"He's still lying in the room. His face is disfigured, so he's too embarrassed to come out."
Chai Yue gestured towards the house before turning to Fang Er.
"Right, young master, you absolutely must not punish those soldiers. They didn't know Father's identity at the time."
"Hah, when Father-in-law recovers, whether to hit or punish them will be up to him. After all, he was injured like this, he has to vent his anger, right?"
Fang Er said with a smile.
After speaking, he turned sideways and put his ear to Chai Yue's belly, wanting to hear the movement of the little one inside.
Seeing his actions, Chai Yue's face was filled with maternal tenderness, and a happy smile bloomed on her lips.
"Father also knows when to stop. It's been two days, and he hasn't said anything about punishing them."
"Cough, cough, cough! Who said old man is prepared to let this go?"
Chai Shao, with two black eyes, appeared in the courtyard at some point.
"Father, why are you out!"
Chai Yue quickly got up and offered the rocking chair to Chai Shao.
"I've been lying down for two days, my back hurts. I'm getting up to walk around!"
"Kid, quickly call your soldiers over and let this old man vent his anger.
Otherwise, I'll take Yue'er back to Shenyang! The baby in your belly will also be surnamed Chai in the future!"
Chai Shao said, and with Chai Yue's support, he walked to the rocking chair and sat down.
Fang Er: ...
Damn it, is he going to be this unreasonable!
He dares to threaten me with the descendant of our Fang family?
"Qing'er, go call them over."
"For the sake of the cub, this isn't cowardly!"
"Yes, master."
Xiao Qing put down her embroidery tools, stood up, and walked towards the front yard.
Not long after, two squads, thirty soldiers, followed her to the back courtyard.
"First Division, Second Regiment, First Battalion, Second Company, First Platoon, First and Second Squads of the Heavenly Fire Army report to the Duke. Please instruct!"
The two squad leaders stood at attention with their subordinates and saluted.
"At ease!"
After Fang Er returned the salute, he looked at Chai Shao.
"Father-in-law, the people are here. You can handle it as you see fit."
Fang Er's prompt summoning of the soldiers caught Chai Shao by surprise.
This kid, isn't he a soldier's soldier?
But these people are already here. If he really beats them to death, it would diminish his own status.
A mere Duke, tormenting his son-in-law's loyal servants, would surely be looked down upon by his old comrades.
But if he didn't do anything, his backside still hurt. It had been two days, and he could only lie down. The moment he sat down, a piercing pain shot through him.
Thinking of this, Chai Shao glanced at his children and Xiao Qing beside him, and beckoned to Fang Er.
"Help old man up."
Fang Er was sitting right beside him and helped him up.
"Let's go to the front!"
"You all follow too!"
After Chai Shao got up, he walked directly towards the front yard.
Fang Er supported him, and the two squads of soldiers followed nervously.
Upon reaching the second courtyard in the front, Chai Shao looked at the two squads before him and gritted his teeth, saying, "Who dealt the blow the day before yesterday! Stand out, or all of you will have your hands cut off and be demoted to slaves!"
"Father-in-law, this is not right!"
Fang Er immediately became agitated upon hearing this.
"What, are you going to fall out with me over these soldiers?"
Chai Shao glared at Fang Er, but with his swollen black eyes, his stare was rather comical.
"You can hit them a few times to vent your anger, but I can't just watch you cripple them."
"These are soldiers I painstakingly trained. They didn't die at the hands of the enemy, only to cripple themselves? How can I explain this to my other brothers?"
"Besides, who told you to wear civilian clothes that day?"
Fang Er's tone was tough. Things were not going as he had expected. He was prepared. If Chai Shao truly acted ruthlessly, then Fang Er would have to say that this was Shenyang, and Fang was the one in charge!
"Duke of Qiao, it was I who dealt the blow that day. I stand by my actions! If you want to kill or torture me, do it to me, and don't trouble our Duke and brothers."
At this moment, a soldier from the thirty stepped out of the formation, saluted Chai Shao, and then looked at Fang Er.
"Duke, my life is cheap. To be able to follow you is a blessing from my past life."
"Don't quarrel with the Duke of Qiao over me. In the next life, I will still be your soldier!"
The soldier's words were righteous. After speaking, he drew his short sword and placed it on his neck.
"Stop!"
But before Fang Er could speak, Chai Shao stopped him. His face, originally filled with anger, suddenly became playful.
"Die? When did I say I wanted to kill you?"
"What was that move of your angel called? If I remember correctly, it's called 'Thousand Years of Death', right?"
Fang Er was stunned for a moment. "What the heck!"
Thousand Years of Death!
No wonder Li Xiaogong had said that Chai Shao had been stabbed. So that's how he was stabbed?
The soldier who had stepped forward stiffened his neck. "Yes, it's Thousand Years of Death. How does the Duke of Qiao intend to deal with me? Please speak directly."
"It's nothing more than death. We can't lose face for the Heavenly Fire Army!"
"Good! You have backbone! I appreciate such tough soldiers!"
"There are thirty of you in total, right? I'll give you two choices."
"Since you like Thousand Years of Death so much, let's use it as punishment."
"Either you stab them, or they stab you."
"I'll just watch. Once it's done, this matter will be over."
Chai Shao said with a serious face and walked to the chair to sit down. However, the moment he sat down, he immediately got up.
Looking at that soldier, "Take off your cotton-padded jacket and pad the chair for me!"
Fang Er's mouth twitched.
Damn it!
As expected, it's still that Chai Shao!
Looking at the soldier standing there like a petrified wood, Fang Er walked forward and kicked him. "What are you standing there for? Take it off!"
The soldiers in both squads were also stunned. They had expected either death or a beating, but who would have thought Chai Shao would come up with such a move!
However, even though this move was somewhat embarrassing, who told him to use such a tactic against a reigning Duke back then?
They quickly rushed forward and awkwardly stripped the soldier of his cotton-padded jacket. The squad leader respectfully folded the jacket and placed it on Chai Shao's chair. "Thank you, Duke, for your grace. We will stab now!"
After speaking, he walked cheerfully in front of the soldier. "Brother, it's okay. You'll get used to a few stabs. You said it yourself."
Then he waved his hand at the other soldiers.
"Brothers, hold him steady!"
"Thousand Years of Death!"
┗|｀oprime;|┛ Ah~~
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Author's Note: